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Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Cheap Thrills by Marilyn Kirschner

You’re So Transparent!

Chanel Spring 2018 Ready-To-Wear. You don't have to spend a fortune to add a little plastic to your life
All photos Vogue.com - click for full size images

“Plastics!” In the 1967 movie, “The Graduate”, a family friend of the Braddock’s, pulled young graduate Benjamin Braddock, aside and conspiratorially whispered that now famous word in his ear. Needless to say, his usage was not fashion related. But given all the sheer, see through, transparent items on recent runways (some of which are made of plastic), I can easily make that connection. For this “Cheap Thrills” column, I wanted to focus on well-priced plastic items.

Assuredly, there’s nothing new about the use of synthetic or semi-synthetic polymerization materials in fashion: see through plastic coats have become somewhat of a running theme throughout Miuccia Prada’s collections and many other designers are finding new ways to re-invent it.

For Raf Simons’ inaugural outing for Calvin Klein Collection (Fall 2017 Ready-To-Wear), clear plastic overlays appeared on a number of short feathered dresses and they were used as removable covers for a group of handsome coats (one in yellow fur and several in wool plaid). This not only makes them practical and waterproof, but gives you two for the price of one.More info/purchase

For Chanel Spring 2018, Karl Lagerfeld wanted to emphasize the healing powers of water. His dramatic waterfall was a fitting backdrop for a collection filled with nubby tweeds that were light as air, fringed, frayed, and accessorized with clear plastic raincoats, capes, boots, fingerless gloves, hats, and bags (see opening shot).

Here is a rundown of some inexpensive clear plastic items in the market (in a few cases I showed you the more expensive version alongside its far less costly equivalent). They are all waterproof, easy to clean, and all but indestructible. Nothing is better than a see through umbrella because even on the dreariest of days, it allows some light to come in. In terms of bags, the good news is that you can see at a glance what is inside. Of course, the bad news is, so can everyone else. This means you have to be neat, organized, and make sure you are only showing the world what you are comfortable with them seeing.

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Marilyn Kirschner our editor-in-chief and former senior Market Editor of Harper's Bazaar for many years reports on the Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer New York collections for every season going back over 15 years. These kinds of reports are found no where else and are offered free to our readers. Additional past commentary was written for us by Bernadine Morris the former senior fashion writer of the New York Times.
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About Me

Lookonline.com is the longest publishing online fashion site in the world. It was launched first as a BBS service in 1993 and has been on the Internet since December 1994. The DFR: Daily Fashion report is also the first fashion blog and was started in early 2002 as the site's main news page. Before launching the site, I was for many years a New York fashion photographer.